Glenda Heywoodo
Songster
Glenda Heywood
I was reading old posts here on BYC and came across this interesting article of back date and thought this might be of interest here in spring of 2017.
Laura78
I ended up with a gosling that has very bad splayed legs to the point that she's on her belly and can't even get on her feet even a little. She gets around right now by hoping. I know her legs can be fixed, but that they may not be perfect. If anyone can tell me how and even show me pictures of a bird in leg splints that would help this little girl out that would be great. BTW, it's a Tufted Buff pair that I got from my feed store. They came into them yesterday like that and I offered to buy them for $25 instead of the $50 they normally go for. They called the hatchery today and was told that if they send the pair back the female will be killed and that I could have them and the store would get a full refund. So, I ended up with the pair for free
Glenda Heywood
Here is my friend DCTownsend's help on the matter read the one that fits you best
this does work as she has done it on all fowl
ORTHOPEDICS FOR POULTRY MADE EASY FOR BEGINNERS
By D.C. Townsend
These treatments have been tested and proven effective. I developed them for peafowl but they
may be used for any poultry. The key to success is to begin treatment promptly. In some cases delay
will kill or cripple the chick.
HOBBLE BRACE
ACHILLES TENDON OUT OF THE GROOVE
When the Achilles tendon slips out of the groove on the hock joint, a peachick will not be able to
straighten its leg. The problem needs prompt attention because the struggling peachick will put
its weight on the hock joint which will damage the skin and cause swelling in the joint. The tendon
can be pushed back in place with just one finger or a very gentle squeeze between the thumb and index
finger. Sometimes just one treatment will give a complete cure that seems like a miracle. Other
times several treatments are needed. Stubborn cases require advanced treatment that is too difficult to
explain here. I treated both legs of a peachick for two weeks; She grew up to be a healthy peahen.
CROOKED TOES
Sometimes a peachick hatches with toes rolled into a fist. They may straighten out on their own
in the first day of life. If they do not do so, I make a CHICK SHOE (see illustration below) from
black pipe cleaner available in the crafts department at Wal-Mart. I use black ones because
bright colors are more likely to be pecked by other peachicks. One packet of Westrim Crafts Chenille
stems costs 89 cents and will last for years. Any kind of half inch wide tape can be used to attach the CHICK SHOE to the toes, but I prefer Johnson and Johnson First Aid clear tape. I cut a piece a quarter inch long for the middle toe. I cut another piece the same length and split into two quarter inch-wide pieces for the other toes. Eight hours of treatment is usually enough time to end the problem on a day-old peachick.
CHICK SHOE
Not Actual Size
HALF SHOE
Not Actual Size
In the 1995 hatch, I had a number of peachicks with a kink in the outer toe of one or both feet.
They were well past a week old when I decided that I must do something about it. I made HALF SHOES of black pipe cleaner. I tore off a quarter inch-wide stripe of duck tape several inches long and secured
the HALF SHOE to the middle and the outer toe. Several days of treatment were needed. Some of the
HALF SHOES came off and had to be taped on again, but all treated peachicks had straight toes at the
end of the treatment. There is a young peacock that I missed treating. Now it is too late and he will
always have a kink in his outer toe.
STRADDLE LEGS
This problem can occur even if you take the precaution of having quarter inch hardware cloth
under your peachicks. Sometimes it is caused by the struggles of a chick with its toes rolled into
fists. In that case, both problems must be treated at the same time. I cut a piece of tape four or
five inches long and from the HOBBLE BRACE with the legs far enough apart so that the peachick can walk. The tape must go the whole way around and cover its sticky side so that it does not stick to the
peachick's fuzz when it sits down. Usually 24 hours of treatment is sufficient, but sometimes more is
required. CHICK SHOES and the HOBBLE BRACE can be used at the same time.
Glenda L Heywood Cassville Missouri
NOW TO SUGGESTION #2
SHAUN POSTED
Ok - here goes. Get a roll of VetWrap - this stuff looks like elastic bandages, but it sticks to itself. Any farm store will have it, I've only ever seen it in bright colors, it's used a lot on horses.
Cut a strip about 3/4 of an inch wide and 2 1/2 times the correct distance between the legs.
Now - what you want to do is make a loop around one of the upper legs with the vet wrap, and stick it to itself on the inside of the legs. Take the other end, do the same thing. Helps to have someone hold the bird.
If you look at it from the bottom, the edges of the vet wrap would form a figure 8 with a "neck" in the middle and the flat sides are against the legs. Won't hurt to get down in there, this stuff only sticks to itself.
You may have to adjust this after setting the bird down, it's ok, vet wrap always sticks to itself. Unstick it and adjust. Great stuff.
If the bird is REALLY bad, you may have to make another splint for the lower legs. If you do, the bird will not be able to walk hardly at all, so take out any waterers and only allow the bird to drink supervised. If you have to splint, that's a good idea anyway. Make sure it can get to food, it will be terribly clumsy. Usually in a day or so the bird can stand on it's own. Just take the vet wrap off and check, if need be, put it on again, if the bird's iffy put it on looser.
Tried lots of stuff before I used this stuff - this stuff is the greatest
Glenda Heywood
As the goosling is pushing self around on stomach
iI would say so the goose can make her legs stronger
USING BOTH THESE IDEAS AT ONE TIME
that this application should work
STRADDLE LEGS
This problem can occur even if you take the precaution of having quarter inch hardware cloth
under your peachicks. Sometimes it is caused by the struggles of a chick with its toes rolled into
fists. (THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GOSLING)
In that case, both problems must be treated at the same time. I cut a piece of tape four or
five inches long and from the HOBBLE BRACE with the legs far enough apart so that the peachick can walk. The tape must go the whole way around and cover its sticky side so that it does not stick to the
peachick's fuzz when it sits down. Usually 24 hours of treatment is sufficient, but sometimes more is
required. CHICK SHOES and the HOBBLE BRACE can be used at the same time.
HOBBLE BRACE
ACHILLES TENDON OUT OF THE GROOVE
When the Achilles tendon slips out of the groove on the hock joint, a peachick will not be able to
straighten its leg. The problem needs prompt attention because the struggling peachick will put
its weight on the hock joint which will damage the skin and cause swelling in the joint. The tendon
can be pushed back in place with just one finger or a very gentle squeeze between the thumb and index
finger. Sometimes just one treatment will give a complete cure that seems like a miracle. Other
times several treatments are needed. Stubborn cases require advanced treatment that is too difficult to
explain here. I treated both legs of a peachick for two weeks; She grew up to be a healthy peahen.
Glenda L Heywood Cassville Missouri
ANY IDEAS FROM THE READERS IS WELCOMED
I was reading old posts here on BYC and came across this interesting article of back date and thought this might be of interest here in spring of 2017.
Laura78
I ended up with a gosling that has very bad splayed legs to the point that she's on her belly and can't even get on her feet even a little. She gets around right now by hoping. I know her legs can be fixed, but that they may not be perfect. If anyone can tell me how and even show me pictures of a bird in leg splints that would help this little girl out that would be great. BTW, it's a Tufted Buff pair that I got from my feed store. They came into them yesterday like that and I offered to buy them for $25 instead of the $50 they normally go for. They called the hatchery today and was told that if they send the pair back the female will be killed and that I could have them and the store would get a full refund. So, I ended up with the pair for free
Glenda Heywood
Here is my friend DCTownsend's help on the matter read the one that fits you best
this does work as she has done it on all fowl
ORTHOPEDICS FOR POULTRY MADE EASY FOR BEGINNERS
By D.C. Townsend
These treatments have been tested and proven effective. I developed them for peafowl but they
may be used for any poultry. The key to success is to begin treatment promptly. In some cases delay
will kill or cripple the chick.
HOBBLE BRACE
ACHILLES TENDON OUT OF THE GROOVE
When the Achilles tendon slips out of the groove on the hock joint, a peachick will not be able to
straighten its leg. The problem needs prompt attention because the struggling peachick will put
its weight on the hock joint which will damage the skin and cause swelling in the joint. The tendon
can be pushed back in place with just one finger or a very gentle squeeze between the thumb and index
finger. Sometimes just one treatment will give a complete cure that seems like a miracle. Other
times several treatments are needed. Stubborn cases require advanced treatment that is too difficult to
explain here. I treated both legs of a peachick for two weeks; She grew up to be a healthy peahen.
CROOKED TOES
Sometimes a peachick hatches with toes rolled into a fist. They may straighten out on their own
in the first day of life. If they do not do so, I make a CHICK SHOE (see illustration below) from
black pipe cleaner available in the crafts department at Wal-Mart. I use black ones because
bright colors are more likely to be pecked by other peachicks. One packet of Westrim Crafts Chenille
stems costs 89 cents and will last for years. Any kind of half inch wide tape can be used to attach the CHICK SHOE to the toes, but I prefer Johnson and Johnson First Aid clear tape. I cut a piece a quarter inch long for the middle toe. I cut another piece the same length and split into two quarter inch-wide pieces for the other toes. Eight hours of treatment is usually enough time to end the problem on a day-old peachick.
CHICK SHOE
Not Actual Size
HALF SHOE
Not Actual Size
In the 1995 hatch, I had a number of peachicks with a kink in the outer toe of one or both feet.
They were well past a week old when I decided that I must do something about it. I made HALF SHOES of black pipe cleaner. I tore off a quarter inch-wide stripe of duck tape several inches long and secured
the HALF SHOE to the middle and the outer toe. Several days of treatment were needed. Some of the
HALF SHOES came off and had to be taped on again, but all treated peachicks had straight toes at the
end of the treatment. There is a young peacock that I missed treating. Now it is too late and he will
always have a kink in his outer toe.
STRADDLE LEGS
This problem can occur even if you take the precaution of having quarter inch hardware cloth
under your peachicks. Sometimes it is caused by the struggles of a chick with its toes rolled into
fists. In that case, both problems must be treated at the same time. I cut a piece of tape four or
five inches long and from the HOBBLE BRACE with the legs far enough apart so that the peachick can walk. The tape must go the whole way around and cover its sticky side so that it does not stick to the
peachick's fuzz when it sits down. Usually 24 hours of treatment is sufficient, but sometimes more is
required. CHICK SHOES and the HOBBLE BRACE can be used at the same time.
Glenda L Heywood Cassville Missouri
NOW TO SUGGESTION #2
SHAUN POSTED
Ok - here goes. Get a roll of VetWrap - this stuff looks like elastic bandages, but it sticks to itself. Any farm store will have it, I've only ever seen it in bright colors, it's used a lot on horses.
Cut a strip about 3/4 of an inch wide and 2 1/2 times the correct distance between the legs.
Now - what you want to do is make a loop around one of the upper legs with the vet wrap, and stick it to itself on the inside of the legs. Take the other end, do the same thing. Helps to have someone hold the bird.
If you look at it from the bottom, the edges of the vet wrap would form a figure 8 with a "neck" in the middle and the flat sides are against the legs. Won't hurt to get down in there, this stuff only sticks to itself.
You may have to adjust this after setting the bird down, it's ok, vet wrap always sticks to itself. Unstick it and adjust. Great stuff.
If the bird is REALLY bad, you may have to make another splint for the lower legs. If you do, the bird will not be able to walk hardly at all, so take out any waterers and only allow the bird to drink supervised. If you have to splint, that's a good idea anyway. Make sure it can get to food, it will be terribly clumsy. Usually in a day or so the bird can stand on it's own. Just take the vet wrap off and check, if need be, put it on again, if the bird's iffy put it on looser.
Tried lots of stuff before I used this stuff - this stuff is the greatest
Glenda Heywood
As the goosling is pushing self around on stomach
iI would say so the goose can make her legs stronger
USING BOTH THESE IDEAS AT ONE TIME
that this application should work
STRADDLE LEGS
This problem can occur even if you take the precaution of having quarter inch hardware cloth
under your peachicks. Sometimes it is caused by the struggles of a chick with its toes rolled into
fists. (THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GOSLING)
In that case, both problems must be treated at the same time. I cut a piece of tape four or
five inches long and from the HOBBLE BRACE with the legs far enough apart so that the peachick can walk. The tape must go the whole way around and cover its sticky side so that it does not stick to the
peachick's fuzz when it sits down. Usually 24 hours of treatment is sufficient, but sometimes more is
required. CHICK SHOES and the HOBBLE BRACE can be used at the same time.
HOBBLE BRACE
ACHILLES TENDON OUT OF THE GROOVE
When the Achilles tendon slips out of the groove on the hock joint, a peachick will not be able to
straighten its leg. The problem needs prompt attention because the struggling peachick will put
its weight on the hock joint which will damage the skin and cause swelling in the joint. The tendon
can be pushed back in place with just one finger or a very gentle squeeze between the thumb and index
finger. Sometimes just one treatment will give a complete cure that seems like a miracle. Other
times several treatments are needed. Stubborn cases require advanced treatment that is too difficult to
explain here. I treated both legs of a peachick for two weeks; She grew up to be a healthy peahen.
Glenda L Heywood Cassville Missouri
ANY IDEAS FROM THE READERS IS WELCOMED
